Let me be weird for a sec and tell you about my fruit situation. I know this is the riveting stuff you live to read about on your summer holidays. Does this sound familiar to you? Bowls of apricots and peaches, slowly ripening to their juicy glory on the kitchen counter. Inside the fridge are small pails packed full of cherries - the sweet ones from the farmers market and sour ones - from the tree of a sweet friend. Way out yonder at the rear of the garden are not one but two massive raspberry patches, that need daily pickings otherwise the birds or bugs will get to them before I. And I hate having birds or bugs beat me to anything. Then there is the rhubarb, that just. won't. stop. It's full on fruitpalooza in my house, but I'm not complaining. This is the best time of year to be an eater. This is what I long for in the deep dark depths of a frigid winter, when I can't possibly eat another apple or banana. I'm a total greedy fruit hoarder right now, stuffing my chubby cheeks with the good stuff; making the most of it while I can. I suppose you can say the same thing for enjoying all summer produce - it's really about embracing the present. With so much bounty on our hands, it must be enjoyed and dealt with immediately. You can't sit idle when you have rows of Swiss chard that need picking (ahem) or pails of cherries that need pitting (double ahem) or bowls of apricots on the verge of over-ripening. To let it go to waste is just so sad. These are gifts, here for but the briefest of moments. I don't know about you, but I love me some presents; especially those I can eat.
